The Red Sea, the Korean Peninsula, and the French Navy: Three Hotspots for Global Security
The year 2024 has begun with a series of events that have raised the stakes for global security and stability. In the Red Sea, a strategic waterway that connects Europe, Asia, and Africa, a rebel group from Yemen has launched attacks on commercial and military ships, disrupting trade and provoking retaliation from regional and international powers. In the Korean Peninsula, a rogue state has defied the international community by conducting its sixth and most powerful nuclear test, claiming to have mastered the technology of a hydrogen bomb. And in the midst of these crises, the French navy, a key player in the maritime domain, is facing some challenges and limitations in terms of its capacity and equipment, which could affect its ability to fulfill its missions and defend its interests. These three hotspots illustrate the complexity and volatility of the current strategic environment, and the need for a comprehensive and cooperative approach to address the emerging threats and challenges.
The Red Sea: A Flashpoint for Regional and Global Tensions
The Red Sea is one of the world’s most densely packed shipping channels, through which about 12% of global trade passes, including 30% of global container traffic. It is also a vital route for energy supplies, as it links the oil-rich Persian Gulf with the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea. The security and stability of the Red Sea are therefore of paramount importance for the global economy and the regional balance of power.
However, the Red Sea has become a flashpoint for regional and global tensions, as a result of the ongoing conflict in Yemen, where a rebel group known as the Houthis, backed by Iran, has been fighting against the internationally recognized government, supported by a Saudi-led coalition. The Houthis control part of the Yemeni coast along the Red Sea, and have used this position to launch attacks on ships passing through the waterway, using drones, missiles, and mines. The Houthis claim to target ships affiliated or bound to Israel, in solidarity with the Palestinian cause, but they have also attacked vessels from other countries, such as Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and Singapore.
These attacks have provoked a strong response from the countries affected, as well as from their allies and partners. The French frigate Long Doc, part of the European-led maritime awareness mission in the Strait of Hormuz (EMASOH), intercepted and destroyed some of the Houthi drones and missiles, demonstrating its capabilities and commitment to ensuring freedom of navigation. The US forces intervened to protect a Singaporean cargo ship from another attack, and announced a maritime coalition with the UK, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands, to conduct strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.
The situation in the Red Sea is not only a threat to the maritime traffic and the economic interests of the countries involved, but also a source of political, security, economic, and humanitarian consequences for the region and the world. The conflict in Yemen, which has been described as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, could worsen as a result of the escalation in the Red Sea, affecting millions of people who depend on aid and imports for their survival. The rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which fuels the proxy war in Yemen, could also spill over to other arenas, such as Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and the Persian Gulf, where the two countries compete for influence and power.
The Korean Peninsula: A Nuclear Challenge for the International Community
The Korean Peninsula is another hotspot for global security and stability, where a nuclear-armed state has defied the international community and posed a threat to the region and the world. On January 1st, 2024, North Korea announced that it had conducted its sixth and most powerful nuclear test, claiming to have tested a thermonuclear weapon, or a hydrogen bomb. The test caused an earthquake of 6.3 magnitude, and was estimated to have a yield of 50 to 140 kilotons of TNT, which is several times more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The nuclear test provoked a strong reaction from the international community, which condemned the act as a violation of the UN Security Council resolutions and a serious threat to the peace and security of the region and the world. The US, the UK, France, Germany, Japan, and South Korea issued a joint statement, calling for the imposition of new sanctions on North Korea, and reaffirming their commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. China and Russia, which have closer ties with North Korea, also expressed their concern and urged Pyongyang to return to the dialogue and the negotiation table. The UN Security Council held an emergency meeting, and adopted a resolution that imposed the toughest sanctions ever on North Korea, targeting its oil imports, textile exports, and overseas workers.
However, the sanctions and the pressure have not deterred North Korea from pursuing its nuclear and missile programs, which it considers as a guarantee of its survival and sovereignty. North Korea has developed different types of missiles, including short-range, medium-range, intermediate-range, and intercontinental ballistic missiles, which can carry nuclear warheads and reach targets in the region and beyond. North Korea has also demonstrated its ability to launch missiles from submarines, which increases its stealth and survivability. North Korea has repeatedly threatened to use its nuclear weapons against its enemies, especially the US and South Korea, which it accuses of conducting hostile and provocative military exercises near its borders.
The French Navy: A Key Player in the Maritime Domain
The French navy is a key player in the maritime domain, which has a renewed strategic importance in the current context. France is a maritime nation, with the second largest exclusive economic zone in the world, and a global presence and influence. The French navy is the only European navy, along with the British navy, that has a full spectrum of capabilities, including nuclear-powered submarines, surface combatants, amphibious ships, maritime patrol aircraft, and an aircraft carrier. The French navy is also a partner and an ally of many countries, especially the US, the UK, and other NATO and EU members, as well as countries in Africa, Asia, and the Pacific.
However, the French navy is also facing some challenges and limitations in terms of its capacity and equipment, which could affect its ability to fulfill its missions and defend its interests. One of the challenges is the lack of low-altitude defense systems on some of the French frigates, which makes them vulnerable to anti-ship missiles and drones, especially in the context of the increasing threats in the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf. Another challenge is the need for more ships to protect the aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle, which is deployed in the Red Sea as part of the Operation Clemenceau, and which is the flagship of the French naval power projection. A third challenge is the emergence of maritime drones, which are becoming more sophisticated and autonomous, and which could pose a new challenge for the naval forces, both as a threat and as an opportunity.
The French navy is aware of these challenges and is taking the necessary steps to address them and to prepare for the future. The French navy is investing in the modernization and the renewal of its fleet, with the acquisition of new frigates, submarines, and patrol vessels, as well as the development of a new aircraft carrier.
Conclusion
The Red Sea, the Korean Peninsula, and the French Navy are three hotspots for global security and stability, which reflect the complexity and volatility of the current strategic environment, and the need for a comprehensive and cooperative approach to address the emerging threats and challenges. The maritime domain is a crucial arena for the global economy, the regional balance of power, and the international order. The naval forces are essential actors for the security and stability of the maritime domain, as well as for the power projection and the diplomacy of the states.
